It seems we can’t have a Jon Jones fight without some sort of crazy drug testing controversy before or after. This time the hammer has fallen before the fight goes down, and as a result UFC 232 featuring Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson will be moving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles for commission sanctioning purposes.
The short version of the story: a metabolite for oral Turinabol appeared in Jones’ December 9th USADA urine sample, but USADA and the UFC are adamant that it was a result of the same mysterious source that forced Jones to sit out since July of 2017.
The NSAC still wasn’t comfortable licensing the fight, but California’s commission said “Let’s do this!” and now it’s a mad scramble to move the show to the Forum in LA.
As you can expect, MMA Twitter is abuzz, and here’s some of the most interesting responses from fighters and sports media:
He tested positive again!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 23, 2018
Smh..... pic.twitter.com/7ANsAIL0jf
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 24, 2018
Anyone know a good travel agent? #UFC232 asking for #CyborgNation pic.twitter.com/Nmk6sHxkuB
— Cris Cyborg #CyborgNation (@criscyborg) December 24, 2018
#ufc232 pic.twitter.com/Y53PHP08zH
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) December 24, 2018
Really?
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 24, 2018
I feel like I should be more surprised than I am. https://t.co/fpmc9XcG8F
I’ve always been very defensive of the criticisms against ufc but I’m really not proud to be a part of this organization today.
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 24, 2018
once a juice head always a juice head
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) December 23, 2018
Them: OMG @JonnyBones pissed hot again?!
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) December 24, 2018
Me: pic.twitter.com/T9073F3yNm
I’m always clean. I train and drink Modelo. https://t.co/V9e2YMeYeB
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) December 24, 2018
17 picograms of ostarine got me 2 years.
— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) December 23, 2018
Heads up for anyone planning on going to Vegas to see the fights next week, it’s being moved to LA. I’m gonna try to get someone on the podcast this week to make sense of it all. Crazy! https://t.co/TrkQkObwNj
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) December 24, 2018
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) December 24, 2018
I’ve always wanted to fight in Los Angeles!!!! Let’s go @UFC 232!!!!!
— Siyar The Great (@Siyarized) December 24, 2018
Nothing like picking up a whole event and moving it to a different state less than a week out to remind you of the essential carnival nature of pro fighting.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) December 24, 2018
All this drug test talk aside, I cannot IMAGINE the logistical nightmare of moving a fight if this magnitude ACROSS STATE LINES with so little notice. Must be production HELL
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) December 24, 2018
Can I have some of Jon Jones purse though as reimbursement to the family that I have flying down to Vegas and the hotels booked ? @ufc
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) December 24, 2018
Well I had tickets to Vegas so.....
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 23, 2018
Didn’t @jonjones just tell CSAC to get lost on @Vada_Testing last week??? ♂️
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 24, 2018
Remember that time Dana said @jonjones would never main event again.... um yeah
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 24, 2018
“If Santa can travel the world in one night you goofs can pony up for a 4 hour drive to LA. Merry fuckin Christmas.” -Dana White #UFC232
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) December 24, 2018
I take these words printed on my #UFC bag very seriously. #martialarts pic.twitter.com/l2nRROP9Ys
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) December 24, 2018
Doc Novitzky is legit and as smart as a person can be. His comments and statement should not be ignored. But DAMN
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) December 24, 2018
I wonder who he'll narc on this time to sweep this test under the rug? :) #UFC232 https://t.co/IAkQCPcYu5
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 24, 2018
How the fuck has Jones tested positive again ?? We need answers ASAP !!
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) December 24, 2018
What about all the family and friends that have paid for accommodations and tickets? https://t.co/8RcVXB2KfS
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) December 24, 2018
This idea that the steroid metabolite can be in Jones’ system nearly 18 months later...is there any scientific literature on this possibility? I can’t find any. Isn’t microdosing also a possible cause? I’d like to see UFC & USADA name the “experts” they’re citing.
— Mike Chiappetta MMA (@MikeChiappetta) December 24, 2018
Thousands of fans are traveling to Vegas for UFC 232 and they just MOVED it to LA just so Jon can get licenced to fight!!??? Am I reading this right?
— E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) December 23, 2018
Or maybe a fighter on the card that had to find out through the internet... https://t.co/qNmwMdFSlN
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) December 23, 2018
Nevada: Where prostitution, gambling and marijuana are legal...but Jon Jones isn’t. #UFC232
— MMA Roasted (@MMARoasted) December 24, 2018
USADA is a joke. Small trace amount from 2017 trigged a positive test? UFC has to move the entire event from Vegas to LA due to “holidays” for NASC. Oh cool. Nothing fishy AT ALL. ♂️ https://t.co/xJ5OaAUZbn
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) December 24, 2018
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